The lifeboat’s hull was of best quality steel, the plates being triple rivetted together with 72,000 rivets – torpedo boats of the period were double rivetted – without a single continuous seam, in order to counter the stresses smashing into waves, whereas other steel hulls were single rivetted. It was not self-righting beyond 110°, the mast being 20° below the horizontal, but featured modified end boxes designed similarly to self-righting vessels, and contained fifteen water tight compartments, bilge pumps and steam ejectors. 15.24m long with overall beam of 4.36m and 1.07m deep, including a flush deck with inset accommodation for up to 40 persons, it was powered by twin horizontal direct acting compound steam engines complete with one boiler and at full speed, a 1,000-rpm fan created forced draught, and it had twin funnels. Recognition must be given to the fortitude of the engine room crew including stokers of these steam lifeboats when being tossed around in storms but the forced draught would have provided ample ventilation. A fuller account may be read here.

This lifeboat was transferred in 1892 to New Brighton temporarily then was based at Holyhead – there, in 1901, while on passage, a boiler room explosion killed two firemen. It was retired from service in 1928.

This was a static model, that the gentleman I got it off had it for two years and when I asked why don't you put it in a box his reply was the box would be to high at 36" so I said to him is it radio control,NO static model only but can be converted,so I brought it and also showed him that if you move the tube slider on the mast it folds(one unhappy chappy),so I set about radio controlling it with a smoke unit(water) and it gets quite a bit of attention at shows because it's different,the model is based on the Queen from new Brighton 1897-1923

Completed (nearly, still a few more crates needed) in July after a 2 year build on a Kingston Moldings hull. Not a scrap of plywood has been used, all made from Oak, Mahogany, Beech and brass. All fittings scratch built, boiler from Maccsteam in Macclesfield, engine TVR 1 A BB from Macclesfield model engineering supplies. Runs on 60/40 butane propane mix. Radio 3 channels used on Futaba 6EX 2.4 ghz set, 1 fo1 for fwd/reverse, I for steering.

My Mersey Ferry Snowdrop on Venetian night. Taken this October at New Brighton Lake on the Wirral.
She has 72 L.E.D.'s Illuminating the interiors and decks.

New update of my Vigilant Star in Newbrighton 29-07-09
Another modification and now running at half the power/speed.
Hope to get another video at full speed soon,with water cannon display,Great fun and thanks for watching.Gerry

HI.just another picture update,taken at Newbrighton. gerry

Boat is a wood kit built in the 1960 by a friend,built and stored in a shed.needs alot of TLC,doing my best to make it fit for the lake ,have rebuilt all of the superstructure.Was powerd by a lead acid battery/500 motor .Now powerd by a GP.7.2vNiCd 2000 Mah.And a cheap 50amp controller bought from Hong Kong on Ebay.Needs a lot more work to be done and been testing it at Newbrighton wirral.Thanks for watching.Gerry

The boat is a scratch built and started life in the shed. it is a semiscale model at aprox 36inch, built with balsa wood.It is full remote control and fitted with two Mtroniks Vision 600 motors one 12volt 7ah battery,one seasprint esc.
It was built as a fun boat so I could sail with my friend Peter thomas with his variuos boats.
Several things have now been added since this boat was first built, IE smoking stacks, fireing torpedoes and magnetic pickups for colecting them. Also has working radar/moving gun + a home built bec.
Flag poles and flags/compas has been added on the superstructure.
Each motor draws 6amps at full power, I have measured the speed from one point to another at a spacing of 60mtrs, and timed at 15 seconds, but this is a bit fast for this boat as she starts to plane out of the water.
We sail her at New Brighton lake on the wirral most wednesdays. As the weather is now a bit cool I have just purchased a simular model to this at 1:48 scale 110ft island class USCG Patrol boat so I can look at them both in action when the weather picks up. Anyone wanting info can contact me via this website.

Here is a video of our boat (Vigilant star) sailing at New Brighton boat lake on the wirral every Wednesday.

The boat is a semiscale (Coast Guard Cutter), designed by Hal-Harrison in Marine Modelling. I have doubled its size and put two 540/1 Mfa motors in, driving quanta 45mm props. She is 36" length 8" Bow, runs of one 12 volt 7Ah SLA battery.

It is made from Balsa/Fibreglass resin. Runs well no leaks to date. Gerry.

The boat is scratch built,designed by Hal Harrison,contruction plan in Marine Modeling mag.whitch was designed as a freelance coastguard patrol boat .made from balsa/cardboard sise 18" aprox.weight 2.5kg.
Our model is 36"twin motors and all moving parts and weight is 10kg.
This is the latest pictures of Vigilant Star on the lake at NewBrighton Wirral

This was originally built circa 1960 by my Uncle, with no radio control, you set the rudder, and let it go! it was then powered by an IC engine. All the fittings, engine and electrics where removed in 1965(ish) for conversion to electric, but the project was scrapped and everything was lost.

After a number of years carrying Action-Man around the living room, it was condemned to 30 years in the loft. Restoration started 3 years ago, completed after 1 year and given back to my Father as a Xmas present.

Sadly, he never got to use it much and it's now back in my possession. After 6 months or so (see posts!) sorting a better motor/esc/battery combo, it's ready for another restoration to bring it back to former glory.

Look closely on the 3rd picture, in the background you can see Fort Perch Rock Lighthouse, a listed building which stands at the entrance to the Mersey, and the famous Liverpool Waterfront further down river. New Brighton lake is in a fabulous setting for boat enthusiasts.